Perception of medical students at public universities in Uganda on their education environment: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The healthcare workforce is one of the six core components of a well-functioning and sufficient health system. The WHO highlights that improving education and training of the health workforce is critical to improving health systems. Medical education is a pillar of the healthcare workforce.

Associations Between Non-communicable Diseases and Obstetric Complications: A Retrospective Records Review at a Tertiary Referral Hospital in Uganda.

Objective: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) increasingly contribute to maternal morbidity and mortality. We determined the association between NCDs and obstetric complications at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) in southwestern Uganda.

Methods: In this retrospective records review, we randomly selected records of women admitted for delivery at MRRH each month from January to December 2022, and extracted their socio-demographic and clinical histories.

Emerging threat of artemisinin partial resistance markers (pfk13 mutations) in Plasmodium falciparum parasite populations in multiple geographical locations in high transmission regions of Uganda.

Background: Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) is currently recommended for treatment of uncomplicated malaria. However, the emergence and spread of partial artemisinin resistance threatens their effectiveness for malaria treatment in sub-Saharan Africa where the burden of malaria is highest. Early detection and reporting of validated molecular markers (pfk13 mutations) in Plasmodium falciparum is useful for tracking the emergence and spread of partial artemisinin resistance to inform containment efforts.

Maternal factors associated with early-onset neonatal sepsis among caesarean-delivered babies at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Uganda: a case-control study.

Background: Babies born via caesarean section in low-income settings face a higher risk of early-onset neonatal sepsis (EONS), which has greater mortality than late-onset sepsis. However, maternal factors contributing to EONS among caesarean-delivered babies in these settings, including Uganda, are not well documented. We determined maternal factors associated with EONS among term babies delivered by caesarian section at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH), southwestern Uganda.

Prevalence and factors associated with surgical site infections among mothers after cesarean section at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Uganda: an observational retrospective study.

Background: The risk of infection following cesarean delivery is 5-20 times higher than that following normal delivery, contributing to 10% of pregnancy-related mortality. In 2019, Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) performed cesarean section for 40% of deliveries, surpassing the WHO's recommended 15%-20%. The availability and provision of effective prophylactic antibiotics are crucial in preventing surgical site infections (SSIs).

Effectiveness of the modified WHO labour care guide to detect prolonged and obstructed labour among women admitted at publicly funded facilities in rural Mbarara district, Southwestern Uganda: an ambispective cohort study.

Background: Obstructed labour, a sequel of prolonged labour, remains a significant contributor to maternal and perinatal deaths in low- and middle-income countries.

Objective: We evaluated the modified World Health Organization (WHO) Labour Care Guide (LCG) in detecting prolonged and or obstructed labour, and other delivery outcomes compared with a traditional partograph at publicly-funded maternity centers of rural Mbarara district and City, Southwestern Uganda.

Methods: Since November 2023, we deployed the LCG for use in monitoring labour by trained healthcare providers across all maternity centers in Mbarara district/City.

Adverse Perinatal Outcomes Among Teenage Mothers Delivering at a Tertiary Referral Hospital in Southwestern Uganda: Prevalence and Associated Factors.

Introduction: Each year, millions of teenagers in low-resource areas experience unintended pregnancies, many of which result in childbirth. These pregnancies often carry an increased risk of negative perinatal outcomes.

Objectives: The study determined the prevalence and factors associated with adverse perinatal outcomes among teenagers delivering at a tertiary referral hospital in southwestern Uganda.

Outcomes of a honey and olive oil-based dressing material on wounds of women that have had a caesarean section in south-western Uganda.

Postpartum sepsis following caesarean sections among women in Uganda remains a risk. However, erratic supplies of standard dressing material make the risk a reality. Alternative wound dressing materials, therefore, remain a viable option.

Impact of postpartum maternal fever or hypothermia on newborn and early infant illness and death in Southwestern Uganda.

Background: Deaths occurring during the neonatal period contribute close to half of under-five mortality rate (U5MR); over 80% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Poor maternal antepartum and perinatal health predisposes newborns to low birth weight (LBW), birth asphyxia, and infections which increase the newborn's risk of death.

Methods: The objective of the study was to assess the association between abnormal postpartum maternal temperature and early infant outcomes, specifically illness requiring hospitalisation or leading to death between birth and six weeks' age.

FOXP3 serum concentration; a likely predictor of CIN and cervical cancer: Secondary analysis from a case control study at a clinic in South western Uganda.

Biomarkers including Forkhead/winged-helix transcription factor box P3 have been proposed in immunohistochemical techniques to diagnose cervical lesions, but can be objectively quantified and measured in blood using methods that can be standardised. In this study we quantified the serum FOXP3 concentrations and assessed their association with cervical lesions at the cervical cancer clinic of Mbarara Regional Hospital (MRRH) Southwestern Uganda. We performed secondary analysis on archived serum samples from a previous unmatched case control study in which we recruited 90 cervical cancer (CC) cases, 90 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) cases before any form of treatment and 90 controls.

Association between metabolic syndrome and cervical cancer among women in Southwestern Uganda: A case-control study.

Objective: To determine the association between MetS and its components with cervical cancer among women in South-western Uganda.

Methods: We conducted an unmatched case-control study on 470 participants in a 1:2 case-to-control ratio among women in southwestern Uganda. We recruited 157 women with cervical cancer as cases and 313 women without cervical cancer as controls at the Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital Cervical Cancer Clinic.

Association between dyslipidemia and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: A case-control study in south-western Uganda.

Background: Altered lipid levels may be associated with the development of a number of malignancies, including cancer of the cervix. However, there is limited understanding of this relationship in the rural Ugandan context.

Objective: We investigated the connection between dyslipidaemias and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) among women attending the cervical cancer clinic at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital in south-western Uganda.

The epidemiology and risk factors for postnatal complications among postpartum women and newborns in southwestern Uganda: A prospective cohort study.

Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for two-thirds of the global burden of maternal and newborn deaths. Adverse outcomes among postpartum women and newborns occurring in the first six weeks of life are often related, though data co-examining patients are limited. This study is an exploratory analysis describing the epidemiology of postnatal complications among postpartum women and newborns following facility birth and discharge in Mbarara, Uganda.

Prevalence of and Factors Associated With Adverse Maternal Obstetrical Events Among Teenage Mothers Delivering in a Tertiary Referral Hospital in Southwestern Uganda.

Introduction: Many female teenagers in low-resource settings conceive, of which half are unplanned and end in many deaths in sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for the majority of the cases. Teenage pregnancy is associated sometimes with poor maternal, newborn, and child deaths.

Objectives:  The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence, maternal obstetric outcomes, and factors associated with poor maternal obstetric outcomes among teenage mothers delivering at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital.

Early contraceptive implant removal and associated factors among women attending public family planning clinics, Mbarara City, Southwestern Uganda: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Early implant removal not only results in method wastage and strains healthcare resources but also exposes women to the risk of unplanned pregnancies and associated complications if an alternative contraceptive is not promptly adopted. Studies have demonstrated that prevalence and factors associated with contraceptive use vary across different cultures and regions even within Uganda. We determined the prevalence and associated factors of early implant removal, among women attending public family planning clinics in Mbarara City, southwestern Uganda.

Late Stage at Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer and Its Correlates at a Large Regional Referral Hospital in Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background The stage of disease at diagnosis is one of the major determinants of survival in women with cervical cancer. Most women with cervical cancer in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) present to hospitals with advanced stages, thus reducing their survivorship following the diagnosis. Factors correlated with late-stage disease at diagnosis are not completely explored.

Effect of metabolic syndrome and its components on the risk and prognosis of cervical cancer: A literature review.

Despite the global implementation of preventive strategies against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection, the incidence of invasive cervical cancer rose by nearly 1.3-fold, from 471,000 annual cases in 2000 to 604,000 cases in 2020. With over 340,000 deaths annually, cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer mortality in women globally.

Providers and women's perspectives on opportunities, challenges and recommendations to improve cervical cancer screening in women living with HIV at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital: a qualitative study.

Background: Cervical cancer screening uptake remains low despite being a critical prevention method for adult women living with HIV(WLHIV). These women experience greater incidence and persistence of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) and severe outcomes, including cervical cancer comorbidity and death.

Objective: We explored the opportunities, challenges, and recommendations of clinical care providers and WLHIV to improve cervical cancer screening uptake among WLHIV in Southwestern Uganda.

The diagnostic accuracy of serum and plasma microRNAs in detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer: A systematic review and -analysis.

Studies suggest a need for new diagnostic approaches for cervical cancer including microRNA technology. In this review, we assessed the diagnostic accuracy of microRNAs in detecting cervical cancer and Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN). We performed a systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guideline for protocols (PRISMA-P).